Coosa County, Alabama
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 01037 · population 10,320 · 651 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 269 records for Coosa County, Alabama from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 222 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (78 records). The most damaging was the November 7, 1996 tornado ($1.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1977, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 26, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 269on 222 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 012 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $28Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 28strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Coosa County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 78 since 1968. The rank column places the county among Alabama's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 78 | 66 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 7 | $1.3M | 64 of 67 |
| Drought | 63 | 63 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 67 |
| Hail | 62 | 47 | 1988-2026 | 0 | 0 | $91K | 43 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 28 | 26 | 1961-2025 | 0 | 4 | $24M | 42 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 11 | 11 | 1996-2017 | 0 | 0 | $104K | 39 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 1996-2014 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 34 of 67 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 5 | 5 | 2005-2020 | 0 | 0 | $214K | 37 of 67 |
| Floods | 4 | 4 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | $160K | 67 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 2004-2024 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 49 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 of 67 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 1 | – | 58 of 67 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Coosa County had?
NOAA records 28 tornadoes in Coosa County from 1961 to 2025, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 29 tornadoes whose track touched Coosa County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 28: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 8 people, 0 of them in Coosa County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-12 12:40, as SPC files it | Jacksons' Gap | EF3 | 82.31 mi | 7 |
| 1968-11-17 12:45, as SPC files it | Clanton | F3 | 32.3 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Alabama.
Every tornado record filed for Coosa County (28)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-15 | Lake Mitchell, Coosa County | EF1 12.02 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | Weogufka, Coosa County | EF0 12.2 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-02 | Socapatoy, Coosa County | EF0 2.28 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-02 | Rockford, Coosa County | EF1 2.65 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-12 | Pentonville, Coosa County | EF3 15.7 mi x 1,250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-03 | Marble Vly, Coosa County | EF0 1.71 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-25 | Lake Mitchell, Coosa County | EF2 8.64 mi x 850 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-17 | Weogufka, Coosa County | EF0 0.13 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-14 | Weogufka, Coosa County | EF0 0.62 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-14 | Marble Vly, Coosa County | EF0 5.79 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-02-24 | Rockford, Coosa County | EF1 5.01 mi x 550 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-01-19 | Cottage Grove, Coosa County | EF1 1.7 mi x 112 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-10-01 | Pentonville, Coosa County | EF0 0.52 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-03-02 | Wetona, Coosa County | EF0 19.61 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-12-22 | Wetona, Coosa County | EF1 22.61 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $85K |
| 2011-04-15 | Equality, Coosa County | EF2 8.01 mi x 915 yd | 0 | 2 | $18K |
| 2008-08-24 | Wetona, Coosa County | EF0 0.01 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-02-17 | Socapatoy, Coosa County | EF1 5.73 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $137K |
| 2008-02-06 | Marble Vly, Coosa County | EF2 13.64 mi x 2,000 yd | 0 | 0 | $158K |
| 2005-11-28 | Equality, Coosa County | F1 0.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2004-11-24 | Rockford, Coosa County | F2 18.7 mi x 1,400 yd | 0 | 0 | $156K |
| 2000-04-03 | Marble Vly, Coosa County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1996-11-07 | Stewartsville, Coosa County | F1 4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.3M |
| 1996-03-18 | Eclectic, Coosa County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1982-01-03 | Coosa County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-04-18 | Coosa County | F2 0.1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1968-11-17 | Coosa County | F3 14 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1961-12-11 | Coosa County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Coosa County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 12, 2013 lightning (1 injury).
A person was injured when struck by lightning.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 474434)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindRockford, Coosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailHanover, Coosa County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCoosa County · forecast zone Coosa | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtCoosa County · forecast zone Coosa | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindNixburg, Coosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindWetona, Coosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindLyle, Coosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-21 | Thunderstorm WindKellyton, Coosa County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | TornadoLake Mitchell, Coosa County | EF1 12.02 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | TornadoWeogufka, Coosa County | EF0 12.2 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-11 | DroughtCoosa County · forecast zone Coosa | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-04-02 | TornadoSocapatoy, Coosa County | EF0 2.28 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindCoosa County | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 1998-06-15 | Thunderstorm WindRockford, Coosa County Trees and power lines were down in the Richland community. Three people received minor injuries when a tree fell on their car as they were driving along SR 22. | 0 | 3 | $72K | |
| 2011-04-15 | TornadoEquality, Coosa County A tornado touched down 6.4 miles west of Central, along County Road 334 in Elmore County. The tornado moved to the northeast and crossed the Coosa County line. The tornado then crossed State Highway 9 and continued moving east, eventually crossing into Tallapoosa County. The tornado lifted on the east side of northern ... | EF2 8.01 mi x 915 yd | 0 | 2 | $18K |
| 1996-11-07 | TornadoStewartsville, Coosa County A small tornado began about 3.5 miles southwest of Stewartville in north central Coosa County and moved northeastward through Stewartville downing trees and damaging houses, businesses, and mobile homes. The total tornado track was estimated to be about 4 miles in length, however, the tornado track began in a wooded ... | F1 4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.3M |
| 2013-08-12 | LightningGoodwater, Coosa County A person was injured when struck by lightning. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-11-07 | TornadoStewartsville, Coosa County | F1 4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.3M |
| 1994-03-24 | Thunderstorm WindCoosa County | 0 | 0 | $995K | |
| 2008-02-06 | TornadoMarble Vly, Coosa County | EF2 13.64 mi x 2,000 yd | 0 | 0 | $158K |
| 2004-11-24 | TornadoRockford, Coosa County | F2 18.7 mi x 1,400 yd | 0 | 0 | $156K |
| 2008-02-17 | TornadoSocapatoy, Coosa County | EF1 5.73 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $137K |
| 2011-12-22 | TornadoWetona, Coosa County | EF1 22.61 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $85K |
| 1998-06-15 | Thunderstorm WindRockford, Coosa County | 0 | 3 | $72K | |
| 2005-11-28 | TornadoEquality, Coosa County | F1 0.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 17, 1968 (tornado, Coosa County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Coosa County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 23 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 19 | 36 | 8 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 29 | 6 | 14 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Coosa County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 23 · Feb 24 · Mar 35 · Apr 40 · May 28 · Jun 21 · Jul 14 · Aug 30 · Sep 10 · Oct 9 · Nov 17 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Coosa County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Coosa County: 12 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and severe storm (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3618 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2023-05-05 | DR-4710 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2023-01-15 | DR-4684 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-12-10 | DR-4573 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 2020-09-14 | EM-3545 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020-07-10 | DR-4554 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4503 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3472 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-10-08 | EM-3394 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2017-09-11 | EM-3389 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2011-04-28 | DR-1971 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-04-27 | EM-3319 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008-08-30 | EM-3292 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3237 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-07-10 | DR-1593 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 2004-09-15 | DR-1549 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1466 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1995-10-04 | DR-1070 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3096 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1990-02-17 | DR-856 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1979-04-18 | DR-578 | Flood | Storms, Wind, Flooding |
| 1979-03-17 | EM-3074 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3045 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Coosa County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 4 flood or flash flood records for Coosa County from 1998 to 2023, on 4 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Coosa County ranks 2358th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $186,000 on 10 claims filed in Coosa County; the most in one year was 2 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1990: 1 · 1996: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2020: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Coosa County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Coosa County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $97K | once in about 267 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $185K | 6.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $632K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $176K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $2K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $103K | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $109K | once in about 562 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $3.3M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Coosa County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in AlabamaEvery Alabama tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in AlabamaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Alabama recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Coosa CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Coosa County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis